Karen

A Sephora VIB Sale Strategy (and a Skin Care Haul)

November 13th, 2018 by Karen 27 Comments

kate somerville skin care — New from Kate Somerville

I have revised my plan of attack for the Sephora VIB sale, because, let’s get real…only a few of the items I want are things I can’t function without (I’m talking to you, Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion). Most of the things are things I only want because they’re on sale… I’m 100% my mother’s daughter that way (“It’s on sale? BUY IT. Don’t you ever pay full price, ever!”).

But really, how much do I actually need another bronzer, all-matte neutral palette or another coral lipstick?

Not much! LOL. But I still want them all, especially with new makeup coming out every five seconds, so I gotta check myself before I wreck myself…

How do I weed out unnecessary or spur-of-the moment purchases?

On the very first day of the sale, I put everything I want to buy into my cart, and then I wait… And wait. And wait. I let it all simmer there, brewing and stewing (and taunting me?). Then, juuuuust before the sale ends, I’ll see what’s left in my cart, and most of the time when I do this, there are things that have sold out, which whittles the list down, and from there I reevaluate what’s left and see what fits into my budget.

This tactic reduces the likelihood of me getting a whole bunch of things I mostly only want because they’re on sale.

sephora vib haul — ‘Twas a skin care haul (regular prices shown)

Um…but K-Dawg, does this actually work?

Dude, it totally does! Forcing myself to wait and really think about my cart and the grand total $ staring back at me helps…because I know who I am, and I’m a spur-of-the-moment shopper.

Waiting also forces me to look around at what I already have in my stash.

For this last sale, I knew I needed another bottle of Kate Somerville Anti-Bac, sunscreen/face moisturizer for winter (ugh, dry skin), an eye cream and some chemical exfoliators for mature skin, because every morning lately when I wake up and look in the mirror, instead of seeing my face, I see freakin’ Gollum’s!

What my heart was telling me I wanted, though, was a bunch of makeup — a Charlotte Tilbury palette, Shiseido eyeliners and eyeshadows (they recently revamped their entire makeup line, and it’s supposed to be REALLY good), some Charlotte Tilbury blushes and bronzers, and a Dior foundation.

OK, and maybe a few other things were in there too, ha ha ha. You know me too well!

Step 1: Shopping my own stash

The Charlotte Tilbury palette ended up being sold out, but everything worked out because I rediscovered my BECCA Chrissy Palette, which more or less serves the same purpose. I’m a little sad panda, 🙁 but if the CT palette is still around for the next VIB sale and I’m still lusting after it, I’ll get it then.

becca chrissy teigen swatches — Hello, old friend…

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#BECCAxChrissy Holiday 2018 Collection Glow Kitchen and Lip Icing Glow Gloss Kits

November 12th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

becca chrissy holiday 2018 2 — New #BECCAxChrissy holiday makeup

Chrissy Teigan gets me, man. She really does — and not just because she made one of my favorite face/eye palettes of all time.

Um, have I mentioned in the last 5 minutes how much I adore the BECCA X Chrissy palette? Yeah, you do not have to twist my arm to get me to wear bronze eyeshadow. LOL.

Well, Chrissy is back with another BECCA holiday collab, and it’s also gorgeous, especially if you have warm undertones and medium brown skin.

We’re talking bronze lids, rose gold highlighter, rosy nude lipstick and a whole lotta nude gloss, a.k.a Karen’s Makeup Dreams Come True, or K.M.D.C.T.

There’s two LE holiday kits, and both of them are available now at Sephora.

BECCA Glow Kitchen Kit ($44)

This kit contains three items, and errrrthang is new. These are never-seen-before formulas, which is very exciting to makeup weirdos ? like yours truly. There’s a loose rose gold highlighter, a matte nude rose liquid lipstick, and a pot called Glow Souffle Eye Shadow & Face Highlighter in Cinnamon Churro with a bronze eyeshadow in the flip-cap top and a creamy golden mousse highlighter in the jar. (Side note: The packaging looks a LOT like these old Tom Ford duos.)

I couldn’t wait to try Cinnamon Churro. The soft bronze eyeshadow feels almost creamy, so it’s crazy sexy blend-able, but the frosty finish and big flecks of glitter make it…problematic for 40-something lids. If I take it up too high into my crease — which is easy to do because of how gracefully the powder glides across the skin, and you know I like to go HAM on that @ss when it comes to blending — I look much older than I am because of mah fine lines.

Beautiful bronze color, though… Le sigh. If I were 22, I’d be on it like fried chicken on waffles.

Fun fact: The mousse highlighter in the duo smells like cinnamon buns, which are one of Chrissy’s favorite sweet treats… And now I’m craving cinnamon buns with extra icing, ha ha.

Um…where was I?

To put the formula in context, the mousse is denser than a Tom Ford cream shadow but less dense than a Chanel cream or a MAC Paint Pot.

So, basically, it feels like a makeup marshmallow (which is great), but, like the eyeshadow, the mousse is full of bling, so it gets a hard pass from me thanks to my experience lines.

becca chrissy holiday 2018 — BECCA Chrissy Holiday 2018

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 550

November 12th, 2018 by Karen 37 Comments

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. Matching holiday pajamas for the whole family: cute or cheesy?

CUUUUUTE — especially if your family takes a lot of pictures like mine does. Also, if you’re going to “go there,” go all the way, man! Use PJs with the most obnoxious print you can find, but please — for the sake of the person in the family who has a bladder the size of a pea (ME) — don’t get onesies, because they are a PITA for the bladder-challenged.

2. How often do you go braless out in public?

Not often. At all. I have four words for you: HELL TO THE NO. I don’t need those things flapping around and blowing in the wind as I’m reaching up to get a box of cat food (that is always out of reach) on the highest shelf. Plus, with my luck, the zombie invasion would probably start while I was out of the house, so I would be stuck in the apocalypse without a bra…which would be TERRIBLE.

3. What’s the best breakup song?

Seems like I’ve been married since the Mesozoic Era, but back in the day Jen and I would bump En Vogue’s Give It Up, Turn It Loose during boy woes.

4. Describe the most recent pic you took on your phone.

I would if I could… See the pic at the top of this post? ☝️

5. Best/worst Thanksgiving side dish?

Is there a such thing as a worst Thanksgiving side dish? 🙂 I’ll pretty much eat everything with equal enthusiasm, but if I’m forced to choose, then I guess my choice for “best” would be mashed potatoes and gravy (teh carbs!), and my pick for “worst” would be the lame-o bags of generic store-bought salad.

There’s always at least one at the table (why?) that nobody touches.

Is there a snack…

That takes you back to your childhood? For me, it’s dried mangoes, which is why I had to stop in the middle of a crowded Costco aisle to take a picture of the display at the top of this post.

When I was really little, the only time I ever got dried mangoes was when relatives brought them over from the Philippines, so I only got them once or twice a year, but now you can get them in bulk at Costco, which BLOWS MY MIND.

I actually didn’t buy one of the bags from Costco because I currently do not need a massive bulk-sized bag of dried mangoes in my life, LOL! They’re basically giant bags of irresistible fruity-goodness candy.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to you soon.

1. Matching holiday pajamas for the whole family: cute or cheesy?
2. How often do you go braless out in public?
3. What’s the best breakup song?
4. Describe the most recent pic you took on your phone.
5. Best/worst Thanksgiving side dish?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 527

November 11th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

Despite his advanced years, Tabs keeps holdin’ it down. He still exudes extraordinary cattitude and gravitas.

Today, to show his support for human and cat veterans, he kept it classy with camo.

His security vest is both fashion-forward and practical because it’s made from super soft silk interwoven with Kevlar, and it doesn’t make a sound during stealth operations.

It worked perfectly on patrol this morning.

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Saturday Surfing, November 10th, 2018

November 10th, 2018 by Karen 13 Comments

charlotte tilbury victorias secret makeup 2018 — SO GOOD!!!

G’mornin’ and happy ? Caturday, chica! Did you happen to catch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show makeup Charlotte Tilbury did?? SO GOOD, BABE. Her PR peeps sent some pics that were taken backstage, and I want this look on my face like meow.

This is one of my favorite makeup looks for so many reasons; I don’t even know where to start because there’s so much good stuff going on. It’s classically timeless. If I had seen this exact same look in a magazine in 2008 or 1999, it would have totally fit in, and it’s just as relevant and wearable today. And I bet it’ll still look good 20 years from now.

First of all, how Charlotte structures the faces? There aren’t any un-blended lines on the lower cheekbones or down the bridge of the nose, contrary to the huge trend on social media. There isn’t any obvious chiseling or sculpting, and hmm… How do I put this? Everyone’s lush, cherubic cheeks look like ripe, round peaches!

And those eyes! I like how the crease and outer third are softly defined, but you can still see the gradients and transitions. Srsly, how exactly does Charlotte do that?? My big struggle when I try to do kind of placement (crease and outer third) is that I don’t know when to stop blending. I’ll get what I think is a good amount of color on my lids, and then I’ll start blending…and keep blending…and blending…and blending…and blending. LOL. Eventually, everything muddles together, and I totally lose the shape (side note: Now you know why I always end up doing smoky eyes, HA HA HA!).

What I’m trying to say is that the subtlety of the blending and crease work in this look is KILLER, but it’s so much harder than it looks!

Also, can we talk about the eyeliner? Again, lots of soft blurring and no harsh edges. I love that you can see it, but it isn’t “in your face” because they’re using something less stark than black.

Charlotte recently posted a tutorial of the makeup she did for the show if you want to try it for yourself.

Kudos to them for not blurring the crap out of the model’s skin in this video, too. It’s so refreshing to see someone with acne on a big beauty brand’s channel. Plus, I like that you really get a sense of what the makeup can do for a real person’s skin.

I have the list of everything Charlotte used, but it’s pretty long. If you want to see it, though, lemme know. I can add it to this post or the comments.

Oh, and Ms. Charlotte, if you ever read this and have a place for a petite 40-something lady with a C-section scar and robust mommy tum, I’m available! 🙂 Get me a push-up bra and a set of wings ASAP. Work your magic on me.

Now for this week’s reading!

What to do when your cat starts gnawing your stretchy black leggings.
Unsurprisingly, one of the ways you can foster friendship and reduce conflict between your cat and dog furbabies involves treats.

Lots and LOTS of treats.
Totally didn’t know this was a thing: Some people who do the keto diet experience bad breath that smells like (wait for it) nail polish remover.

SAY WHAT?
Here are Oprah’s favorite beauty things for 2018, because in an alternate universe (and maybe even in this one), Oprah is a minor deity.
Do you love coffee? Do you also love shoes? If so, Say hello to your new favorite pair of kicks.
Kodo Nishimura, a Japanese makeup artist, Buddhist monk and LGBTQ activist, believes that loving beauty, and being devoted to Buddhism, are not mutually exclusive.
Fave read of the week: this thought-provoking piece on beauty standards and the time it takes to appear “naturally beautiful.”
Skynet is coming! In the near future we’re all going to have personal robots to apply our makeup for us.
Ugh… I’m deeply disappointed that there’s even a market for this, but someone is developing beauty products that are supposed to protect faces against acid attacks.
Shout-out to Sunnies Face, a Filipino Beauty brand that makes one product which keeps selling out.
PROVEN, a new skin care line, uses artificial intelligence to customize skin care for individuals.
Why do (most) cats hate water?

Classic.

Gonna try this all matte look ASAP!

Hopefully you’re a little more excited to put on some war paint now. ? I’m gonna, even though I’m just going to putter around the house today.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hanging With “Makeup People,” and Thoughts on Looking Like You’re Trying With Your Makeup Even Though You Really Haven’t Tried at All

November 9th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

Last weekend at a children’s birthday party, which was held inside an art studio, I got to make pinch bowls with ceramic clay (I asked El Hub if he wanted to recreate that scene with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore from Ghost but he said no). At the party, I bumped into a fellow makeup person (hey, Shakun!), and as our kids devoured birthday cake and buzzed around the room, naturally, the conversation drifted to the makeup we were wearing, because that’s what you do when you are a “makeup person,” as opposed to a standard “makeup civilian” (yes, I’m officially coining that term right now).

Big surprise! — I was wearing neutrals on my lids and lips, but because it was a party and I felt like I needed to try a little bit, I also drew some shimmery blue winged liner at the last minute using two colors for an ombre effect. I used a light teal in the inner part of the lash line (Urban Decay Deep End) and a darker sapphire for the outer third and wing (LSD, also by UD).

Not one at that party — not even El Hub, who was the person who probably spent the most time looking directly at my eyes that afternoon — noticed that I was wearing two shades of blue liner, except for Shakun.

BAM! Right off the bat, she pointed out the ombre effect and asked what I used. Funny how it’s like that when you’re hanging with a makeup person, right?! They notice the details right away.

I complimented Shakun on her bright red matte lipstick, and she said that she was wearing red lips because she didn’t have a lot of time to get ready, but she still wanted to look like she tried because it was a party. LOL!

That got me thinking bout the things we do as “makeup people” when we want to look like we tried, but we’re still pressed for time.

I definitely have a go-to bag of tricks for these occasions, like colorful liner, of course, which is so easy, and it’s even easier if you leave out the winged part of it. Anything jewel-toned and shimmery, I like, but purples are what I reach for the most. And GLITTER! A glittery liquid liner, or a glittery eyeshadow top coat (Urban Decay Diamond Dog!), always works wonders and doesn’t take a lot of effort. And, of course, a bright hot pink or red lip. All of these things pop with hardly any effort.

False lashes also up the ante, but at this point in my life I reserve them for special events and holidays like Halloween.

Thanks for being a fellow makeup person. 🙂 Because sometimes I really need someone more interactive to talk to about these things than Tabs…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Introducing Cake Beauty! (And Body Products That Smell Like Dessert)

November 8th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

Is there a sourdough-scented soap? A breadstick body butter? A rye loaf hand cream? To the best of my knowledge, most beauty products that smell like baked goods are of the sweet variety — cake, cookies, frosting.

YUM!

I like sweet scents as much as the next Nutella lover, but there’s a fine line between juuuuuust sweet enough and gag-inducing.

Remember Jessica Simpson’s Dessert beauty line of edible products that was at Sephora about a billion years ago? It had lipglosses and body glitters and lotions you could eat? Even though I am THAT PERSON who shamelessly orders two desserts at dinner, every time I caught a whiff of one of the products I wanted to toss my cookies. They were too sweet for me, but lots of people loved them. (Side note: Apparently there weren’t enough people who loved them, though, because they were hit with a few lawsuits and subsequently went out of business.)

Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to fragrances. One woman’s cloying is another woman’s perfection. Like, right now I’m into a kinda up-and-coming Canadian cruelty-free brand called Cake. They make dessert-scented body and hair products, and they’re coming soon to the U.S. in Rite Aid stores.

cake beauty — A few of my favorites from Cake Beauty, coming this month to Rite Aid.

I’ve been metaphorically devouring (because the products aren’t actually edible) the shampoo, conditioner (why do I love that it’s called a “creme rinse”?), body cream and the hand cream, and every time I sniff my hands or my hair I go YUM! — but I’m sure there’s someone out there who would totally barf instead. LOL!

Unsurprisingly, I like products that smell like things I’ll eat, so anything with caramel, vanilla and honey, but usually only if the products also have some bitter notes for balance, like coffee, dark chocolate or lemon…

Yes, I know I’m weird, ha ha.

Anything too artificially sugary, like strong buttercream, meringue or cotton candy, turns my stomach.

While we’re on the topic, how do feel about body products with a “milk” scent? Are you in the “love it” or “hate it” camp? I’m in the middle. I can take it in small doses, but my friend Cindy CANNOT stand anything that remotely smells like milk because she dated this dude once whose skin smelled like sour milk, and it ruined milk for her. But she’s all about green tea scents!

Yeah, you know someone’s a good friend when you know their fragrance loves and hates and why, ha ha!

Your friendly neighborhood neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Voting Selfies Are a Thing

November 8th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

Voting selfie from 2016. It appears as though I at least combed my hair in this one, ha ha! By the way, please talk some sense into me the next time I decide that getting bangs is a good idea, thanks.

Did you know this?? You go to your polling place, fill in your little boxes, get your sticker, and then snap a pic of yourself wearing said sticker.

Totally a thing!

I’ve done it before and I’m sure I’ll do it again, although I didn’t take one last Tuesday because… Long story, but El Hub got home late from work, so I had to dart out the door to reach the polling place. I didn’t have time to comb my hair or wash my face. I also had dried bits of baby barf on my sweater because I’d just gotten back from seeing Connor Claire at Vomit-pa-looza 2018. (Side note: She’s better now.)

Sigh… Sometimes I feel like I’m in a competition with myself to see just how gross I’m willing to be when I’m out in public, LOL. ?

Needless to say, I was feeling frazzled and sleep-deprived, and kinda weirdly antisocial because it had been the first time I’d left the house in two days, but yet the nice lady who handed me my ballot said that I looked “very put together,” even though I most certainly wasn’t.

I think she was just being kind, so to that stranger who was working at the polling station on South Novato Blvd. last Tuesday, thank you for your random act of kindness. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen